Does human food give your dog heartworms? If not, what causes your dog to get heartworms?

Question

I don't give my dog our food. But I have heard others talk about them giving their dog food (cheez its,yogurt,fruit etc....) and just wondered if that is good for them. I do know you don't give your dog bones.

Answer 1

The previous answers are correct. Heartworms are transferred by mosquitos.

Your dog can get other types of worms from eating a variety of things in the yard and other places - hooks, whips and rounds are other common worms dogs get. It's highly unlikely they would get any type of worm from human food unless your dog found it in the yard...

With that said, all of these are treatable and preventable. Heartworm prevention is given monthly. Your vet will check for other types of worms at your annual check up. This is why they ask for a fecal sample.

You can give you dog some types of human food but you need to be cautious. Mine get green beans in their food to help fill them up and keep their weight down. They also get green beans as treats.

I also give them a bit of fat free yogurt in their food. It's good for their coats and it helps with ear infections.

Always talk to your vet if you have concerns about what to feed your dog. You'll read a variety of answers about food online but your vet is your best and most educated source.

One thing to note, my dogs get some people food but never table scraps. Any human food they get, the beans, yogurt and sometimes peanut butter in the kongs are all given in their bowls at breakfast and dinner!

Answer 2

#1: Heartworms is not from human food but comes from the bite of an infected mosquito.

When a mosquito bites and infected host...then bites your dog or cat, the heartworm prelarvae is released from the mosquito's mouth into the bloodstream of the animal.

In time the heartworm grows into a long whitish worm anywhere from 23 cm to 30 cm long and migrates toward the heart.

Your dog or cat can die from heartworm. It can be treated if your pet has it but it is best if you live in an area high in mosquito's to give your pet a monthly heartworm medication.

http://www.dogsadversereactions.com/moxidectin/hwcycle.html

Answer 3

dogs love cheese, your vet might tell you to give your dog yogurt if he//she gets sick, and most fruits are ok too. but the ONLY WAY a dog can get heartworm is by being bitten by an infected mosquito. there are only certain species of mosquito that can carry the heartworm microfilaria, but these mosquitoes are found in all 50 states. not only is it important to have your dog on a heartworm preventative, you also must consider how they get the disease... from mosquitoes! so what else is important? mosquito repellent!!! a few heartworm preventatives contain a repellent, so ask your vet about them. oh, and by the way bones are fine for your dog as long as they aren't poultry bones like chicken and turkey. and make sure they're cooked!!

and chalice is incorrect, there are lots of worms that you and your dog can get from meat. (which is why you have to make sure you cook everything properly!!)

Answer 4

Heartworm disease is only transmitted to dogs thru the bite of a mosquito that is infected with heartworm. This is why all dogs should be on a heartworm preventative. Once an animal is heartworm positive, treatment is extremely expensive and not 100% curable. That said, you cannot transmit heartworm disease thru food. I am guilty of giving "people" food to my dog, but always in moderation.

Answer 5

Undercooked meat can give other worms, but heartworms in an adult are caused ONLY by being bitten by an infected mosquito. Get your dog on heartworm preventatives (depending on your dogs weight they are less than $5 a month) and you will never have to worry about them.

Answer 6

Dogs get heart worms from mosquito bites from what I remember. Only a vet can give the blood test that will determine if your dog has heart worms or not. I don't give my dogs people food because it's really not good for them. My vet said to stick with really good dog food. Basically, it's not people food that causes heart worms in dogs.

Answer 7

Heartworms are contracted through mosquito bites, not food. In fact no worms are caught from human food - they come through other insects including mosquitoes and fleas, and other small animals like mice. Some species of worm can also be found in the soil, like lungworm, and of course they can be caught through dog-to-dog contact, especially with faeces.

The main problem with giving your dog human food (especially crap like cheezits) is that it will make the dog fat. Once you start giving human food they will come to expect it and you will find it very hard to stop as the dog looks at you pleadingly for its usual snacks. Try to stick to dog food only - becoming overweight really shortens a dog's lifespan, as it does with humans, due to the health problems associated with overweight: joint problems, heart problems, urinary health trouble, skin conditions, diabetes, lowered immune system, exercise intolerance.....

Chalice

Answer 8

The food itself does not cause hip dysplasia or bone problems but too rapid of a growth rate can cause joint problems in large breed dogs and so some large breed puppy foods do lower protein content to moderate their growth rate. And food that is too high in protein can cause diarrhea and gas in dogs that are not high energy working dogs. This has been a problem for some people who switched their dogs to high protein superpremium foods, myself included. I switched to a high quality food that was slightly lower in protein (California Natural) and my dogs did much better than on the higher protein foods. Large breed puppy foods are specifically formulated to address this issue. Lamb or chicken are both fine as long as your dog tolerates them. I have a dog allergic to lamb.

Answer 9

Mosquitos.
Candy doesn't give dogs worms either.

Answer 10

no it's not food it's mosquitoes bite and lay larva in them that travels to the heart of dogs and turns to heart worms.